Theoretically, if congestion hasn’t gotten any worse until the last year, it stands to reason we wouldn’t hear an increasing number of complaints about traffic. And yet, we do.

Many of the complaints of recent years, though, had quite a bit to do with construction projects designed to ease it. For much of this decade, I-494/694 has been under construction, causing plenty of tie-ups. That work mostly finished in 2007. In the East Metro, the widening of I-94 took a few years and plenty of headaches to get rid of a headache; that was completed a few years ago. Those completed projects caused a welcomed respite from congestion, apparently, until now.

And, of course, not all highways are created equal. While congestion overall may be up slightly, it actually increased significantly in 2006 in some locations — I-35W, I-94 and I-394/TH12 — all highways that have more “congested miles” in the morning in 2006 than in 2007, according to the report.

Drivers on I-494, I-694 and I-35E all experienced an increase in congestion, although it’s important to point out that one of the largest current highway construction projects in the state happens to be at the I-694 and I-35E weave.

For the most part, congestion on those major highways — I-35W, I-694, I-94 — has been increasing for most of the decade, but few match the congestion of late 2000, according to the report.

About the blogger

Bob Collins has been with Minnesota Public Radio since 1992, emigrating to Minnesota from Massachusetts. He was senior editor of news in the ’90s, ran MPR’s political unit, created the MPR News regional website, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day laments that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

NewsCut is a blog featuring observations about the news. It provides a forum for an online discussion and debate about events that might not typically make the front page. NewsCut posts are not news stories.

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It would also be interesting to see what the actual average speeds of congested areas are. There’s a big difference, at least in perception, between 45mph and 5mph. My commute has gotten immensely better since the first span of the Wakota bridge opened; while there’s still some congestion, afternoon eastbound traffic is generally moving at 40+ mph now compared to 5-15 mph over the old bridge. I suspect that some other areas have probably gone in the other direction.

I’m part of the problem, with a long commute from home to work (having changed jobs). I should probably telecommute more!

Bob Collins

Yes, that Eastbound traffic over the old Wakota was a nightmare. If I was at the airport, I use to drive into St. Paul just to get on Warner and Shepard Rds to come back down 61 instead. On a dark, rainy night night, it’s pretty tough staying in your lane over the bridge, but it’s sure better than it was.